Choosing an inexpensive motherboard for the Intel platform

ASRock H97M

Taiwanese company ASRock's mainboard is a very balanced solution that is not inferior to more expensive competitors in many respects< /b>. This model is the only microATX board in our selection and can be used to create compact desktop.

Asus B85-PLUS

Inexpensive ATX board from ASUS, positioned for corporate users, is almost the same price as the analogs from our selection. This is explained by the fact that the manufacturer has gone a little further in the process of reducing the cost of the product for the consumer. So, the physical dimensions of the board are not quite standard: at the usual height for full-size ATX boards, the width of the Asus B85-PLUS is the same as for mini ATX models (208 mm instead of 244 mm). In fact, this is only fraught with the fact that in some, especially older cases, the board cannot be fixed at all attachment points. And the board fixed not at all points of emphasis can bend from pressing when installing new devices. This point should be taken into account when assembling a PC, but this cannot be called a significant minus.

The functionality of the model is almost completely determined by the Intel B85 system logic set. Almost, because, as in the case of other models of our selection, the manufacturer bypassed the limitation on overclocking the processor. Special profiles for accelerating components that are contained in the BIOS of the board will slightly increase the performance of the entire system. By the way, the distinguishing feature of this model is the BIOS interface with keyboard and mouse support, modified for clarity and convenience of quick setup, which facilitates experiments with system settings.

In terms of ports and connectors, the board looks quite ascetic, although in this it is not much different from other models from the selection. Still, there are a couple of features. So, instead of one combined PS/2 connector, there are two dedicated ones for the mouse and keyboard. But the number of connectors for case fans is less than the others — only 2. There is also no digital HDMI port, VGA and DVI connectors are available for connecting monitors. There are only a couple of USB 3 interfaces on the board, additional ports are in the form of connectors on the board itself.

With this in mind, the Asus B85-PLUS board will be useful in case of upgrading a non-new system unit, as often happens on small enterprises. In addition, the board is aimed at users who have a "fad" on the part of the reliability and durability of computer components. After all, the attraction of this model is the 5X Protection technology.

Without going into technical details, we will say that this solution is a set of measures to protect the board from accidental troubles and increase the life of the device. So, it has an advanced processor power management system with short circuit protection, solid capacitors will “stretch” several thousand hours, and the connectors have received additional protection against static electricity. However, Asus also has models in the TUF series that have maximum protection, for example, TUF Trooper B85 and Vanguard B85.

ASRock Fatal1ty B85 Killer

The only board in the selection that is positioned as a platform for building a gaming computer. Of course, the richness in terms of equipment and bundles, as in top gaming products, is not here, but for relatively little money, the board provides the key features of more expensive models. That's what makes it interesting for thrifty buyers.

So, the board is based on the Intel B85 chipset, aimed at use in office and low-cost systems. However, you can make the computer run faster both from the UEFI BIOS shell and using the proprietary F-Stream utility. Numerous built-in overclocking profiles will allow you to effectively use this feature with many compatible processors.

One of the main gaming features of the board is the Realtek ALC1150 8-channel audio codec (the best in our selection), complemented by overclocking technology Purity Sound. In particular, the board is equipped with a headphone amplifier (models with impedance up to 600 ohms are supported). High-quality sound is very important for immersion in the atmosphere of games. As in more expensive models, the Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2200 advanced network controller is used here, the capabilities of which will be useful to fans of online games and watching videos online. The adapter gives this traffic the highest priority to improve the quality of the connection. No lag, just frag! — according to the manufacturer. Named after the alias of a famous eSportsman, the USB port for the Fatal1ty mouse provides better sensitivity and additional settings that are important in fast-paced games like shooters.

A special utility allows you to create and run macros on a regular keyboard, something like this same as it happens when using gaming devices. And for those who want to gain an advantage over opponents at any cost, you can activate the "sniper mode" for more accurate aiming at the target.

MSI Z97 PC Mate

The board is a very interesting product aimed at users who have already assembled more than one or two system blocks with their own hands. The Z97 PC Mate model from the Taiwanese company Microstar International is the most "reduced" solution based on the top Intel Z97 chipset. The board supports high-speed DDR3 memory with a frequency of up to 3000 MHz and the entire set of tools for full overclocking of an Intel processor with an index K (for example, Core i5 4690K) without restrictions . And thanks to CrossFire support, it can claim the role of an inexpensive board for a powerful computer with two AMD Radeon video cards.

The manufacturer saved on quantity, but not on quality — the component base includes elements corresponding to the Military Class 4 standard That is, they are able to provide stable and durable operation even at high temperatures inside the case (which is typical for powerful machines, especially well-overclocked ones).

eyes. But after comparing with a typical solution based on the same Intel Z97 chipset, everything falls into place. So, there are DVI, VGA and HDMI video outputs, but there is no Display Port. There is no S/P-DIF digital output, and there are only three multi-channel audio outputs instead of the usual six. The board also lacks hardware buttons for automatic overclocking and power management. Two USB 3.0 ports are enough by the standards of low-cost devices, but not enough for an average board with Intel Z97.

same as an entry-level or mid-level multimedia desktop. The MSI Z97 PC Mate is a good option for those who plan to overclock their system but are not ready to pay a lot for a top class motherboard.